Container and package



Jan} 9, I H. RODDA JR CONTAINER AND PACKAGE Filed June 4, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

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ATTOIZHEY Jan. 9, 1968 A G. H. RODDA, JR 3,362,615

CONTAINER AND PACKAGE FiledJune 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.650265 H. RODDIQTJQ.

I [Q I I I 8 W l I20 W ATTOQN EY United States Patent Ofitice 3,362,615Patented Jan. 9, 1968 3,362,615 CONTAFNER AND PACKAGE George H. Rodda,in, Corona Del Mar, Calif, assignor, by memo assignments, to PurexCorporation, Ltd., a corporation of California Filed June 4, 1964, Ser.No. 372,563 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) ABSTRACT OF THE DKSCLOSURE An easilyopenable container for foodstuffs and the like is provided whichcomprises a wall section formed of thermoplastic film in a mannerproviding overlapped edge portions. A seal is formed between theoverlapped edge portions. The inner film is provided with a serratedline spaced from the edge of the inner of the overlapped edge portionsand under the seal between such portions.

This invention relates to the packaging of various products, andparticularly grocery products, including, for example, foods, soap andsoap products, and is especially concerned with a novel, easy openingcontainer or bag for packaging food products such as cheese, meats anddough mixes, particularly frozen dough or bread mixes, and various otherproducts including soaps.

Containers and bags formed of a flexible plastic material, such aspolyethylene, have been widely utilized for the packaging of groceryproducts, e.g., food products. Such containers are advantageous in thatthe packaging material or plastic films or sheets employed in formingthe container or package are relatively inexpensive, and such wrapper issubstantially impervious to air and moisture, thus improving the keepingqualities of the package. Such containers or packages are also readilysealed and form an attractive package.

This type of container and packaging material lends itself ideally tothe packaging or" various products, particularly food products,including frozen dough mixes, the contents of the package beingmaintained in fresh, attractive condition over an extended period oftime.

However, the provision of an easy and quick means for opening suchpackages to remove the contents has presented a considerable problem.Various modes of solving this problem have been advanced in the past,but in many cases have not proved sufliciently effective andsufficiently inexpensive so as to provide a completely satisfactorysolution. Thus, for example, prior art containers and packages of thistype have been designed employing means such as pull strings and wireswhich, when pulled, provide an opening in the container for removal ofthe contents. This package opening means, including such pull string,requires the incorporation of such a string on the package with means tohold it in position so as to provide an opening in the package when thestring is actuated, and hence is relatively expensive.

It is accordingly an object of the instant invention to provide acontainer or package formed of plastic film or sheet and whichincorporates a simple means for quickly and easily opening the package,without employing extraneous materials other than the plastic packagingfilm.

Another object is to provide a flexible plastic container of any desiredshape, e.g., in the form of a plastic tube, bag, or the like, forpacking products, particularly grocery products including foods, such asbread dough mixes, soap products, and the like, and which is providedwith a novel, simple means which is designed so that by a simple pullingoperation of a predetermined portion of the plastic film forming thecontainer, the container can be opened for removal of the packagedcontents.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparenthereinafter.

According to the invention, a container or package formed of flexible,preferably thermoplastic film, e.g., in the form of a tubular orbag-type container, or package, is provided having as an integral partthereof an easyopen serrated portion or segment comprising a part of thecontainer wall. Broadly, such easy-open means is provided according tothe invention by sealing overlapped edge portions of the container toprovide a seal between the overlapped edges and providing a serratedline or serration in at least the inner or underlap surface of theplastic film spaced from the outer edge of such underlap surfaceportion.

According to a preferred form or embodiment of the invention, an edgeportion or layer of the plastic film is sealed over the opposite edgeportion of the film, such underlying edge portion having a serration orserrated line therein which can extend, for example, longitudinally ortransversely of the container. The outer overlapped portion also has aserration or serrated line formed therein, the serrations in theunderlying and overlying lapped edge portions being spaced from eachother and defining a strip of the container surface. For opening thecontainer, the overlapped edge portions can be provided with atransverse slit extending across the serrations. This permits the userto insert the finger into the transverse slit and to lift the filmlayers between the serrations, causing a tear along the serrations andthus removing a longitudinal segment of the container wall andpermitting easy removal of the container contents. The sealed overlappededge portions of the container or tube and the spaced longitudinalserrations provided in the outer and inner overlapped edge portions thusprovide an easy-open segment for opening the package according to theinvention.

According to one preferred embodiment, the seal between the overlappededge portion is in the form of a continuous seal which can be providedconveniently, e.g., by heat sealing of the thermoplastic film or sheetdirectly over or adjacent to the serrated line in the underlying layeror edge portion of the film, to form the container. Alternatively, suchheat seal can be located in the area essentially between the outer andinner serrations and extending closely adjacent to or just over theinner serration. According to further embodiments, such sealed area canalso be positioned between the overlapped edge portions of the containerbeyond the serrations of the underlying and/or of the overlap layer, ashereinafter more fully described.

In another preferred form of the invention, an easyopen means isprovided at one end of a bag formed of two flexible plastic wallportions by folding an outwardly extending portion of one wall of thebag over the opposite wall portion of the bag, to form overlapped edgeportions at said one end of the bag. A serration is provided in theoverlap portion adjacent the bottom of the bag and a spaced,substantially parallel serration is formed in the inner surface of theoverlapped edge portions. A seal is provided in the area between theserrations. When an outwardly extending flap on the overlap edge portionis pulled back substantially along the serrations, the wall portion ofthe bag between such serrations tears along the serrations, opening asegment of the bag at the end thereof, to permit easy removal of the bagcontents.

By utilizing heat sealing or electronic sealing methods for providingthe above-noted seal, it will be seen that the means for opening thecontainer or package according to the invention principles does notrequire the utilization of any extraneous materials other than theplastic film itself employed to form the container wall. Thus, forexample, in the preferred embodiments it is simply necessary to form thetwo lines of serrations, each in opposite edge portions of the film andto seal such overlapped edge portions so as to provide the spacedserrations in the outer and inner films defining the easy-open segmentas above described. Any suitable means such as the abovenoted cut in theoverlapped film portions can be provided as a means to commence thepulling or tearing of the easy-open segment.

In forming a container or package according to the invention, the twoouter edge portions of the plastic film are provided with the serrationsby means of serrating wheels. The outer edge portions containing suchserrations are then overlapped, and such overlapped edge portions aresealed, e.g., by heat-sealing or electronic sealing means, to form thecontainer. One end of the container is then closed, for example, bymeans of a clip, and the product to be packaged is then introduced intothe container and the opposite end of the container is then also closed,e.g., by means of a clip.

The invention principles will be more clearly understood by reference tothe description below of certain embodiments of the invention taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a container and package in tubular form having aneasy-open segment incorporated therein according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the opening of the container or package of FIG. 1 bytearing away the portion of film between the serrations in the outer andinner layers of film;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of a section across the overlapped edgeportions of the film forming the wall of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the sealing means disposed between theoverlapped edge portions of the film;

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows still another modification of the position of the sealbetween the overlapped edge portions of the film with respect to theserrations;

FIG. 7 is a crosssection taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a modified form of the invention as applied to a containeror package of oblong shape;

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the easy-open package means ofthe invention;

FIG. 10 shows a still further modification of the invention principles;

FIG. 11 illustrates yet another modified form of the improved containerand package opening means of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates application of the easy-open segment principle ofthe invention for opening one end of a flexible plastic bag;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section at one end of the bag of FIG. 12, showingthe overlapped edge portions including the serrations along which thebag opening is formed;

FIG. 14 is a detail illustrating the manner of opening the end of thebag of FIG. 12, along the overlapped end portion thereof;

FIG. 15 illustrates another modification of the container openingprinciples of the invention; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 show still further modifications of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing, numeral 10 represents aflexible plastic film or sheet forming the wall of a tubular containeror package 12. Any thin, preferably heat-scalable plastic sheet or filmcan be used in producing the wall or jacket of the container. Thus, forexample, the container or package of the invention can be formed ofpolyethylene film, polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar), cellophane,polyvinylidene chloride (Saran), rubber hydrochloride film (Pliofilm),nylon, cellulose acetate-butyrate, polyvinyl chloride (Vinyon), and thelike.

The film 10 forming the tubular container or package of the invention,is provided with overlapping edge portions 14 and 16. The overlappededge portion 14 has a longitudinal serration 18 formed thereinsubstantially coextensive with the length of the tubular container andsubstantially parallel to the outer edge 20 of the overlapped layer 14.The underlying edge portion 16 has a longitudinal serration 22 formedtherein which also extends substantially the entire length of thecontainer. Such serration 22 is substantially parallel to serration 18,and is spaced from the edge 24 of the underlying edge portion 16.

The overlapping edge portions 14 and 16 are sealed along a narrowlongitudinal area over the underlap serration 22, as by heat sealing,said seal extending on both sides of such serration. Such seal indicatedat 26 is continuous, and extends also for substantially the entirelength of the container. In a preferred embodiment according to theinvention, it will be seen, viewing FIGS. 1 to 3, that the edge 24 ofthe underlying layer 16 extends a short distance beyond the serration 18in the outer layer 14, and likewise the outer edge 20 of the overlappedlayer 14 extends slightly beyond the serration 22 formed in the surfaceof the underlying layer 16. By this means, the product such as food,e.g., bread dough mix, packaged in the container is protected fromdirect exposure to the air through the serrations 18 and 22 in theoverlapped layers of film 14 and 16.

A transverse or perpendicular cut 28 can be formed in the overlappedlayers 14 and 16 at one end of the tube as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2,such cut extending from the edge 20 of the outer layer 14 to theserration 18 formed in such outer layer. Such cut or slit need not beprovided at the time the food is packaged in the container, but can beformed in the package by the user at the time the package is to beopened, e.g., by printing a line Where the slit 28 is to be made anddirecting the user to out along this line by means of proper directionsor indicia printed on the package.

The opposite ends 30 of the film forming the container or package aregathered together and closed off by suitable means, e.g., clips 32 ofconventional design.

For opening the package according to the invention, the user simplyinserts a finger into the cut 28 and pulls or lifts the layers 14 and 16of film, causing such layers to tear along the serrations 18 and 22, asindicated in FIG. 2, removing a segment or strip 36 of the containerwall and forming a rectangular opening permitting easy removal of thecontainer contents 35. In such stripping or tearing operation, it willbe noted, viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, that the free edge 24 of the underlyinglayer 16 will be pulled free and through the opening 34 produced by thetearing of the segment along the serrations, as above described. Theouter edge 20 of the outer layer 14 which remains sealed to the adjacentinner layer, as indicated at 26, will remain attached to the outersurface of the container during the tearing of the strip or segment 36from the wall or jacket of the container during the opening thereof, asabove described.

Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein a narrowlongitudinal seal is provided which extends over the underlap serration22, and wherein a portion of such seal extends into the area between theserrations 22 and 18, such seal effectively seals the underlying layer16 to the overlying edge portion 14, while permitting easy tearing ofthe strip or segment 36 along the serration 22.

According to an illustrative example, which is not intended aslimitative of the invention, a convenient distance between theserrations 18 and 22 is about /2 inch, thus permitting easy insertion ofthe finger into the slit or cut 28, as noted above, for commencing thepulling or tearing of the easy-open segment 36, such segment 36 thushaving a width of approximately /2 inch. The width of the heat-seal area26 over the underlap serration 22 is about A inch.

In forming the container or package illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, theplastic film 19 in essentially flat form is serrated by any suitablemeans, e.g., by serrating wheels which are spring loaded, to provide theserrations 18 and 22 adjacent the respective edges 20 and 24 of thefilm. The outer edge portion 14 of film is lapped over the underlyingedge portion 16, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the longitudinalheat seal 26 is then applied over the underlapped serration 22 in anysuitable conventional manner. One end of the container is then closedoff by means of a clip 32, and the food to be packaged is then insertedinto the tubular container through the opposite open end. When the foodhas been packed in the container, the opposite end of the container isclosed ofi by means of a similar suitable clip 32.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modified form of the invention in which the areabetween the serrations 18 and 22 is sealed as indicated at 38, such sealextending in width from the overlap serration 18 to the underlapserration 22, forming a relatively wide, longitudinally extending seal38.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown another modification, wherein the outer edge2t) of the overlapped layer 14 extends substantially beyond theunderlapped serration 22, and a continuous longitudinal seal 4t) isprovided be tween layers 14- and 16 but beyond the underlap serration 22and extending adjacent the outer edge of the overlap 14, as indicated at40. In this modification the seal is not disposed between serrations 18and 22.

FIG. 8 shows a modified form of the flexible plastic container 41employing the invention principles wherein the container is in the formof an oblong, as indicated at 42. The means for providing the easy-opensegment 36, according to the invention principles, is the same as shownin FIGS. 1 to 3, and as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 9 showing still another modification of theeasy-open container seal of the invention, thermoplastic layers and 52have serrated lines 54 and 56 formed therein adjacent their respectiveouter edges and are overlapped so that the serrations 54 and 56 in theinner and outer layers, respectively, are spaced from each other. Inthis modification a seal, e.g., a heat seal 58, is provided whichextends between the serrations 54 and 56 and beyond both of theseserrations, as indicated at 60. As in the case, for example, of themodifications of FIGS. 3 and 5, upward pulling of both layers 50 and 52of the overlapped portion between the serrations 54 and 56 will causetearing along such serrations, removing a rectangular segment defined byboth said layers between the serrations.

In the modification of FIG. 10, the overlapping edge portions formed bylayers 56 and 52 are heat sealed at 62 from a point 64 spaced from theinner serration 54, and between the serrations S4 and S6, to a point 66beyond outer serration 56. On the other hand, in the modification ofFIG. 11 the overlap edge portions formed from the flexible films 50 and52 are sealed at 68 between the serrations 54 and 56. However, in thismodification, the seal is spaced both from the inner serration 54 andthe outer serration ss.

Although upward pulling of both of the layers 50 and 52 betweenserrations 54 and 56 in the modifications shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 willproduce a tearing of both of the layers between the serrations 54 and56, and also removing a segment of the container wall to reveal thecontents, as in the case of the modifications of FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 9above, the modifications of FIGS. 3, 5 and 9, wherein the seal, e.g.,heat-seal, is positioned over the serration of the inner layer orunderlap, constitute the preferred forms of the invention for producingclean straight cuts along the serrations. The modifications of FIGS. 7,10 and 11 wherein the seal is spaced from the serration on the innersurface of the overlapped edge portions do not function assatisfactorily for producing clean cuts along the spaced serrations,e.g., 54 and 56.

It will be noted that in the modifications of FIGS. 3, 5, 9 and 10particularly, a hermetically sealed container is produced due to thepositioning of the seal over the serrations, especially the innerserration, in the adjacent layers.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 is illustrated the application of the inventionprinciples for sealing one end of a plastic bag so as to provide aneasy-open means at one end of the bag for removing the bag contents.

In this modification, the bag 70 is formed of opposite layers 72 and '74of a flexible thermoplastic film which can be heat-sealed at one end ofthe bag, as indicated at 75 to form a closure. The opposite end of thelayer 72 has an outwardly extending portion 76' which extendssubstantially beyond the outer edge 78 of the opposite layer 74 formingthe bag. A serrated line 80 is formed in the surface of the layer 72substantially along the outer edge 78 of the adjacent layer 74. A secondserrated line 82 is formed in the outer surface of layer 74, suchserrated line 82 being spaced from the outer edge 78 a distance somewhatless than the length of extension 76 beyond edge 78, and being disposedparallel to the serrated line 80.

The extension 76 is then folded substantially adjacent the serration 80back over the bottom portion 88 of the layer 74, forming overlapped edgeportions as seen in FIG. 13, with the outer end 84 of the extension 76extending beyond the serration 82. The area between the overlapextension 76' and the adjacent underlap end portion 83 of layer 74 issealed from one side 86 of the bag to the opposite side 86' thereof.Preferably, a heatseal is employed, and such seal extends in width fromapproximately just over the serration 82 to about the serration 88 inthe layer 72, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The outer free edge portion 84of the extension 76', when pulled up and in a direction along theserration 82 will produce a tearing of the underlap layer 88 along theserration 82 and a tearing of the outer layer or extension 76 along theserration 8t removing both layers 76' and 88, and thus opening the bagalong and beneath the serrated edge 82, for removal of the contents.Bags of the type described above and having the easy-open means at oneend thereof, according to the invention principles and as illustratedabove, can be employed for packaging a wide variety of foods, including,for example, cereals, cookies, potato chips, and the like, and can alsobe used for packaging other various products, including soap andcleaning powders generally, and the like.

The invention has been described essentially in terms of the provisionof a pair of serrations in adjacent overlapped layers of thermoplasticmaterial, and having a seal between such layers so positioned thattearing of such overlapped layers along both serrations can beaccomplished by a pulling action of both of the overlapped layers alongthe spaced serrations, to remove a substantially rectangular segment ofthe container wall.

However, the invention principles can be employed broadly simply toprovide an opening in the flexible plast c wall of a container withoutremoval of a rectangular segment of the container wall. Thus, forexample, in FIG. 15 is shown a modification in the form of a pair ofoverlapping edge portions 99 and 92 of a thermoplastc flexible materialin which the underlap or inner layer has a serrated line 94 formed inthe surface thereof, and a heat seal 96 is provided between layers and92, such heat seal being positioned ciosely adjacent to the serration94. In this modification, by pulling the outwardly extending end fiap 98of the outer layer 92 outwardly and along serration 94, the inner layer99 wiil tear along the serration 94 due to the outward tensiontransmitted to the inner layer 99 just below the serration 94, via theseal 96 between the layers. Such a tear will produce an opening in thecontainer along the line of the serration, permitting removal of thecontents of the container through such opening.

In the modification shown in FIG. 16, the inner layer 100 has aserration 102 formed therein and the outer layer 104 likewise has aserration 106 formed therein, the serrations 102 and 106 beingsubstantially in alignment. A seal 103 is formed between layers 102 and104 on one side of the serrations 102 and 106 and spaced therefrom and aseal 110 is formed on the other side of the serrations 102 and 106 andspaced therefrom. Pulling the outer layer 104 on either side of theserration 106 as indicated by the arrows on FIG. 16, will producetearing of outer layer 104 along serration 106 and will cause the innerlayer 100 also to tear along the serration 102 as a result of thetension transmitted from the portion of layer 104 being pulled to theadjacent inner layer 102 through the seal 108 or 110. This forms anopening in the container wall along the serrations 102 and 106 to permitremoval of the container contents.

Also, in FIG. 17 is shown a modification of the bag shown in FIGS. 12 to14. In this embodiment the opposite thermoplastic side portions 112 and114 of the bag each have a serrated line 116 and 117 respectively formedtherein near the upper end of the bag, e.g. about a half inch from thetop of the bag, such serrated lines being substantially in alignment,that is one over the other, and extending from one edge of the bag tothe other, as illustrated for the serrated lines in the embodiment ofFIG. 12. A seal 120, e.g. a heat seal, is provided between layers 112and 114, such heat seal being disposed over both of the serrations 116and 118. To open the bag, the upper portion 122 thereof above theserrations is pulled back, tearing such upper portion along bothserrations and across the seal 120. If desired, seal 120 can extendupwardly a distance substantially to the upper end of the bag.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14, it will be understood that the seal89 thereof can be of smaller width than shown, that is, it can belocated between serrations 80 and 82 without touching either serration,or it can extend up to or beyond either or both of the serrations 80 and82.

It will be understood that containers or packages of any desired shapeemploying the invention principles can be provided. Further, it will benoted that although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawingillustrate the formation of an easy-open segment which extendslongitudinally along the entire length of the container, the serrationor the serrations, and cooperating heat-seal can be placed in anyposition on the container, e.g., transversely or diagonally thereof, andthe length of such serrations and heat-seal can be varied as desired.Thus, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the length of theserrations 18 and 22 can be shortened so as to extend from thetransverse cut at 28, say, for a distance of only /3 of the length ofthe container of FIG. 1 instead of the entire length thereof. Further,alternatively, the serrations 18 and 22 can commence at a point, say, /4the length of the container from the point indicated by the cut 28, andthen extend entirely to the rear of the container. In other words, themeans providing the easy-open segment 36 can be positioned so as to forma rectangular opening in the container, as indicated at 34, over theentire length of the container or some shorter length thereofintermediate the ends of the container.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the invention provides a plasticcontainer or food package having an effective, quick and easy means forproviding a suitable opening in the container for removal of thecontents, without requiring any extraneous means such as pullst-ringsand the like, as in prior art containers and food packages.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for thepurpose of illustration, it should be understood that variousmodifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit ofthe invention, as set forth in the appended claims. It will beunderstood therefore that any equivalent means can be employed by thoseskilled in the art to provide weakened tear lines exemplified by theserrations or serrated lines described above and shown in the drawings.

1 claim:

1. A container comprising a wall formed of a flexible plastic sheetmaterial having overlapped edge portions, a first serration along theouter overlapped edge portion and a second serration along the inneredge portion, said serrations being spaced apart and substantiallyparallel and longitudinally extended, and a seal between said overlappededge portions, and disposed over said second serration.

2. A container comprising a wall section formed of a thermoplastic filmhaving overlapped edge portions, a seal between said overlapped edgeportions, a first serrated line along the outer film spaced from theedge of the outer overlapped edge portion, and a second serrated linealong the inner overlapped edge portion, said serrated lines beingspaced apart from each other, said seal being disposed over said secondserrated line along the length thereof.

3. A container comprising an elongated tube of thermoplastic film, saidtube having an outer edge portion overlying an inner edge portion, afirst longitudinal serration in the outer edge portion of said film,spaced from the edge of said outer edge portion, a second longitudinalserration in the inner edge portion of said film substantiallycoextensive with the length of said first serration, said serrationsbeing substantially parallel, and a sub stantially continuouslongitudinal seal between said inner and outer edge portions, andoverlying said second serration.

4. A container comprising an elongated tube of thermoplastic film, saidtube having an outer edge portion overlying an inner edge portion, afirst longitudinal serration in the outer edge portion of said filmalong said tube and spaced from the edge of said outer edge portion, asecond longitudinal serration in the inner edge portion of said filmsubstantially coextensive with the length of said first serration, saidserrations being substantially parallel,

the edge of said inner edge portion extending beyond said firstserration, and the edge of said outer edge portion extending beyond saidsecond serration, a substantially continuous longitudinal thermal sealbetween said inner and outer edge portions, and disposed in the areabetween said serrations and overlying said second serration.

5. A food package comprising an elongated tube of thermoplastic film,said tube having an outer edge portion overlying an inner edge portion,a first longitudinal serration in the outer edge portion of said film,spaced from the edge of said outer edge portion, a second longitudinalserration in the inner edge portion of said film substantiallycoextensive with the length of said first serration, said serrationsbeing substantially parallel, a substantially continuous longitudinalthermal seal between said inner and outer edge portions, and overlyingsaid second serration, food contents contained within said tube, andclips closing off opposite ends of said tube.

6. A food package comprising an elongated tube of thermoplastic film,said tube having an outer edge portion overlying an inner edge portion,a first longitudinal serration in the outer edge portion of said filmalong said tube and spaced from the edge of said outer edge portion, asecond longitudinal serration in the inner edge portion of said filmsubstantially coextensive with the length of said first serration, saidserrations being substantially parallel, the edge of said inner edgeportion extending beyond said first serration, and the edge of saidouter edge portion extending beyond said second serration, asubstantially continuous longitudinal thermal seal between said innerand outer edge portions, disposed in the area between said serrationsand overlying said second serration, a transverse cut formed in saidouter and inner edge portions and extending from said first serration tothe edge f i ter l y r n providing means for lifting and tearing alongitudinal segment of said tube including said sealed outer and inneredge portions defined by said se -rrations, foo-d contents containedWithin said tube, and means closing ofif opposite ends of said tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/ 1959 Lawlor 22951 Spees 22951Saidel 229--51 Ramseier 22951 Grapp 229-51 Neuman 229-66 DAVID M.BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

